The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-08

of the country. They had introduced
into the Senate bill known as the
Cullom bill, a bill that contained twenty
two sections, and every one of them sd
mitting of q doubtful construction, 80
much so that no one in either the Senate
or the House was able to interpret it-not
even its godfather; Mr.. Cullom who, when
asked to explain its provisions on the floor
of the Senate, tacitly admitted his inabili-
ty to do SC.
"The committee. in accordance with the
fifth plank OF our declaration of principles,
supported the one with the least legal
technicalities, viz, the Reagan bill, and
went so far as to ask the President, on be-
half of those whom they represented, to
veto the bill which had been passed. The
committee up 70 this date has not
seen any arguments on the part of
their critics that have caused them
In any way to recede from the position
that they assumed on the questions; but,
on the contrary, the evidence is daily COM
ing to the front of doubtful interpreta-
tion of the law and its consequent failure
to relieve the people of the evils
they have so long complained of and ex-
pected by the law to be relieved of.
Every day strengthens the opinion of this
committee, that the day Is not far distant
when the praise of their constituents and
the people at large will be bestowed upon
them for the course they have pursued in
the matter, and the committee feel conf
dent that the near future will bring them
the reward that they are entitled to, the
acknowledgment that they acted conscien-
tiously in the course they pursued"
The report is severe upon the failure of
Congress to pass some of the important
land forfeiture bills, and says that some
very crooked work was done by land attor-
neys and shystering lawyers in connection
with the forfeiture of some of the
grants, and that in many instances the
settlers have been duped and defrauded
by these men, who have been posing as
their friends, and in several instances have
succeeded in getting several thousand dol
lars in notes from the people located on the
lands; that these attorneys are without in
huence in the way of securing legislation,
and hopes that this statement may be the
means of saving some of the settlers from
being gulled in the future.
In speaking of the Sioux City and st.
Paul Railroad land grant, the committee
says: I'VE are informed that a former
Government official by the name of Judge
Lawrence, who is a resident of Ohio, has
been engaged by the settlers of this grant
at fee of 81 per acre, making sum total
of $S5, 0O0, in case the comm ttee succeeded
in getting the bill through"
In conclusion the committee say: "As
early as the first of February we were in
several of the measures that the committee
were interested in, and which have been
systematically boycotted by the Committee
on Rules of the House, we must secure the
consent of that committee. The special
custodians of this sacred burial
place were John G. Carlisle,
the Speaker of the House; William
r. Morrison and Sam J. Randall on the
part of the dominant party, and Thomas
B. Reed and Frank Hiscock, acting for the
minority party Of the House. The former
three are masters of ceremony when 1t
comes to party question. When we found
that every one or the measures that we
were interested in were embalmed in this
destined famous place of inter
ment, we proceeded to interview the
members of this committee with a view
of resurrecting some of the measures, at
least, from this party catacomb. We
sought, by written request, an interview
| with one of the members, Mr.. Samuel j.
Randall, at his house. In this effort we
were successful, but came away no wiser,
and we fear from our disposition after
the interview, no better men. Subse-
quently we sought an interview with Mr..
| Carlisle, but met with no better success.
There has been no legislation enacted dur
| ing the last five weeks of the present ses.
sion but such as has been subjected to the
scrutiny of the three members of the Com
mittee on Rules from the dominant party
! termed by the members of the House the
steering committee); and, so far
as the members OF the House
were concerned (save keeping their seats
warm), they might as well have gone home
four weeks before adjournment, for they
have had virtually nothing to say as to
| what kind of business should come up be-
fore the body. The Speaker of the House
of Representatives of the Republic was alb
solute dictator of 80, ,00O, 900 people, as far as
any legislation they desired was concerned,
during the last days of the present Congress,
and the rest of the body might Just as well
have been at home with their constituents.
1t is the opinion of your committee that
the next General Assembly should select
not more than three great public measures,
and proceed to educate our members and
the public at large on those questions.
among them bill to have the Government
telegraph system in connection with the
| postofice; the other to devise means for
the Government to use its surplus reve-
nues toward removing the present interest
bearing debt; the third, an amendment to
the Constitution that the Senate be elected
| by direct vote of the people"
The report is signed by Ralph Beaumont,
John ]. Mccartney and James Crmpbell.
4